CONCORD, Mass. – Husson University is seeking a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District to conduct work in waters of the United States in conjunction with constructing campus projects in Bangor, Maine.
The applicant proposes the full build out of Husson University as part of the university’s 25-year master plan. Over the next 25 years, the university proposes to fill up to 19.65 acres of freshwater wetland off of College Circle in conjunction with the construction of new academic, housing, athletic and parking facilities. The university, through avoidance and minimization, is only proposing to impact up to 19.65 acres of the 47.5 acres of wetlands and waterway on the campus.
The university, located at 1 College Circle in Bangor, is requesting that the Corps issue a permit for 25 years to cover the full build out of the master plan.
To compensate for the project’s unavoidable impacts to wetlands, the permit applicant proposes to preserve a 307-acre parcel of land in Hudson, Maine, in perpetuity. The parcel is located along the Pushaw Stream and abuts the Hirundo Wildlife Refuge. The parcel contains 154.5 aces of freshwater wetlands, vernal pools and 2,400 feet of shore frontage along Pushaw Stream. The Orono Land Trust will oversee the preservation parcel. The university currently is looking for wetland parcels to restore and/or enhance in addition to the proposed preservation. All the compensation would be in place prior to the development of wetland areas on the campus.
The application for the federal permit was filed with the Corps in compliance with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, which regulates the discharge or fill of material in United States waters, including wetlands. The public notice, with additional information, can be viewed on the Corps website at
http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/PublicNotices.aspx.
The decision whether to issue a permit for 25 years will be based on an evaluation of the probable impact of the proposed activity on the public interest.
Public comments referencing this permit request by Husson University (File # NAE-2008-2072-M2) should be forwarded no later than May 22, 2014 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, Maine Project Office (ATTN: Shawn Mahaney), 675 Western Ave., #3, Manchester, Maine 04351. Additional information is available from Permit Project Manager Shawn Mahaney at 207-623-8367 or 978-318-8492 or by email to shawn.b.mahaney@usace.army.mil.